ABOVE PHOTO: Sara Moltzan, a member of the UW-Stout academic custodial staff, uses a leaf blower while cleaning the band room in the Applied Arts Building. Using the blower saves work time because custodians can easily go around objects rather than move them if sweeping or vacuuming.
When students at University of Wisconsin-Stout enter a classroom, lab or residence hall, or head to the student center for lunch or a show, they know they can count on bright, orderly spaces awaiting them.
“Custodians play a critical role in students feeling welcomed, and sometimes it is the custodian who notices something about a student and can refer them to someone who can help them on campus. While cleaning is an important part of our job, ultimately, we are about creating successful students,”
-Bob Cook, Facilities Management academic/service buildings
That’s because a group of employees dedicated to their well-being and career success has taken care of it for them. At UW-Stout, 54 custodians keep 32 buildings and 2.24 million square feet of space clean and ready for learning and living day after day, semester after semester.
The team’s innovative approaches to problem-solving and dedication to serving students, faculty, staff and campus visitors haven’t gone unnoticed. On Sept. 26, Custodial Services received the University Staff Excellence Program Award from the Universities of Wisconsin during the Board of Regents meeting at UW-Parkside in Kenosha.
“The custodial team is an amazing group of dedicated employees essential to upholding our mission as Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University and supporting the success of our students and our university,” said Chancellor Katherine Frank.
Frank attended the meeting and award ceremony along with custodial leads Bob Cook, Facilities Management academic/service buildings; Aimee Lipke, University Centers; and Brad Mengeling, University Housing; and their respective supervisors, Zenon Smolarek, Darrin Witucki and Justin Fults. Also attending were Erik Guenard, vice chancellor for Business, Finance and Administrative Services; Glendalí Rodríguez, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs; and Dean of Students Sandi Scott.
Meanwhile, about 20 members of the custodial staff gathered in Merle M. Price Commons at UW-Stout to see a livestream of the award ceremony. They celebrated with a cake.
Cook, who has been at UW-Stout for 41 years, spoke on behalf of the custodial team.
“Custodians play a critical role in students feeling welcomed, and sometimes it is the custodian who notices something about a student and can refer them to someone who can help them on campus. While cleaning is an important part of our job, ultimately, we are about creating successful students,” Cook told the Board of Regents.
“It’s about the students and the staff and keeping everyone safe and healthy,” Cook added.
Scott nominated the team for the award. “Our custodial team is comprised of dedicated, hard-working and long-serving individuals who are professionals and who take great pride in maintaining and servicing our facilities across campus,” Scott said.
“Custodians know they do more than keep our buildings clean,” Scott said. “They provide daily care and services for spaces that provide and support living, dining and learning both in and out of the classroom. They create first impressions for recruitment, and the care and cleaning of the campus spaces that they take such pride in contributes to retention. Daily, their work helps us live out our polytechnic mission.”
